ASIJ '89 reunion - best weekend

My high school 20th reunion was this past weekend. Initially, I couldn't believe the 20th part, but after the matter, that age issue is far from my mind. Pics will be uploaded to a shared group on flickr, but for now, I'm in such a fuzzy lovey state that I want to mark it here. I've always had issues with the Japan-U.S. divide, never knowing reallly where I belong. My heart is in Japan, but the openness of S.F. where people don't really care where I come from or what I look like is such a special place too. And after 30, SF has been ideal in maturing and growing into my true self. I've established my life with Dav and T in SF. So in the past 5 years or so, I've begun to identify that the US is part of me...although this was probably enabled because my work led me back to my Tokyo home a few times a year so I could feel my connection with Japan. Without that, I think I may have been a ton more homesick, and not have appreciated what SF offered.

With our Burning Man and tech community here, Dav and I have found an incredible place to live.

Yet when I do meet a few of my friends from high school, either here or in Tokyo, I am reminded how comfortable I feel; a breathing out of, "oh yeah, this is really really comfortable." I can make jokes, be goofy in the way they get. I get their jokes! We speak in mixed Japanese & English (chanpon). All the tiny references make sense. It's like putting glasses on when your eyes go slightly bad. Friends who experienced that weird dual culture divide understand that tiny space that is there, but not in the forefront of everyday life. This reunion made me realize I miss that.

I've been focused on my SF life for quite some time. Now, I want to put more attention to my friends where I come from. I want to make the effort to travel and spend more time with friends. This past weekend was 3 glorious days of all of us, coming together and celebrating our connection. Sure we were happy to hear about lovely families, incredible achievements, & new adventures, but the most important was we were happy to be back together.

It was awesome. Amazing. I'm really in such a bliss state internally, it's kinda fun : )